The Bengals, in need of a quarterback, tried to swing a deal with the Packers for the last pick in the first round of Thursday night's NFL Draft. Cincinnati would have selected TCU's Andy Dalton, according to league sources. The Bengals and Packers could not agree on the compensation for the 32nd pick, however, so the Packers selected Mississippi State tackle Derek Sherrod.

Aaron Rodgers is keeping his fingers crossed that the NFL season will be played uninterrupted. Rodgers, however, hopes there isn't a 18-game season. "I hope there's not 18. I'm optimistic and confident in the leadership on our side that we're going to be able to get something done," Rodgers said. "There's too many people affected like I said. You look at a community like Green Bay, those businesses that are around Lambeau and are in Green Bay, the hotels, stores, the restaurants, and bars are all really affected by a lockout, a prolonged lockout where we miss some time so I hope we consider them in this process and find a way to get something done that both sides can agree upon."

Although the NFL lockout has cut off most contact between teams and players, Green Bay GM Ted Thompson said the Packers are able to track the progress of injured players during the offseason. Speaking to reporters in his annual pre-draft news conference Thursday, Thompson said team physician Pat McKenzie is staying in touch with Packers players who are rehabilitating their injuries.

A judge has sentenced Packers defensive lineman Johnny Jolly to probation after he pleaded guilty to a 2008 drug possession charge in Houston in a plea deal with prosecutors. Jolly was sentenced Thursday during a hearing, according to an ESPN.com report. He was accused of possessing at least 200 grams of codeine, a controlled substance, after being arrested outside a Houston club three years ago.

Assuming the 2011 season isn't lost to the lockout, the Packers will be the first team in NFL history to play on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. The league released their 2011 schedule on Tuesday despite the lockout. Green Bay will play Detroit on Thanksgiving, Chicago on Christmas and the Lions again on New Year's Day.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has surpassed Brett Favre, the man he replaced, in jersey sales. Over the last year, Rodgers had the NFL's second-most popular jersey, behind Steelers safety Troy Polamalu. Favre was still among the most popular jerseys despite a controversial year when he blew off training camp and then got involved in a lewd test messaging scandal. He had the league's 14th most popular jersey. No player has sold more jerseys in the history of the NFL than Favre.

The four finalists in the Madden 2012 cover athlete contest are Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, Browns running back Peyton Hillis and Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. The final pairing will be announced on April 18. Rodgers defeated Danny Woodhead, Vick topped Patrick Willis, Hillis edged Jamaal Charles and Peterson got past Drew Brees.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has yet to make good on a bet made over the NFC Championship Game. Quinn has yet to settle up with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. In the bet between the two men, the loser has to show up in the winner's state and volunteer in a food pantry. According to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the loser also has to wear grab from the winning team. "No, no, no, absolutely not," Quinn's spokesman Grant Klinzman said when asked if the governor was trying to get out of the bet. "He fully intends to live up to the terms of the bet." "He's a very, very busy guy,” Klinzman said.

Packers linebacker Nick Barnett still doesn't know what his future in the NFL will be. Barnett has two years remaining on a six-year, $35 million contract, is due $5.5 million in base salary next year and counts $6.9 million against the salary cap. After signing linebackers A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop to new deals, the Packers will explore trading or releasing Barnett. "There's a lot of uncertainty, to be honest," Barnett told ESPN Radio Milwaukee on Thursday. "I am under contract with the Packers two more years, but there's been talk of trades -- not necessarily directly to me -- but we'll see what happens. I know I'll be playing football. I'm probably in the best shape I've been in in the last three years. And super hungry and excited to play. I would love to finish my career as a Packer and retire as a Packer and, obviously, break that (tackles) record. "I'm willing to do a lot of things to be a part of that organization, but it's hard to get the dialogue because of the lockout. We can't get anything going, or any conversations, and see where each other stands. I'm willing to be a Packer and willing to do a lot of things to do it. But we can't talk, so we don't know where we stand."

As they wait for the NFL lockout to end, the Super Bowl champion Packers are keeping busy. Ryan Grant has been working out in New Jersey and has tentative plans to spend time in Florida to work out with some acquaintances, including teammate Nick Collins. Green Bay tight end Andrew Quarless said team members receive regular email updates about the labor situation from older players such as John Kuhn and Mark Tauscher.